10
Table of Contents Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ........................................... 157
Coolant Level ............................................. 158
Engine Oil................................................... 159
Engine Oil Level .......................................... 160
Brake Fluid Level ........................................ 162
Fuel Economy ............................................. 164
Operating your Porsche in other Countries .... 164
Fuel ........................................................... 165
Fuel Recommendations............................... 166
Portable Fuel Containers ............................. 167
Fuel Evaporation Control ............................. 167
Emission Control System............................. 168
How Emission Control Works ....................... 169
Washer Fluid............................................... 170
Power Steering ........................................... 171
Air Filter ..................................................... 172
Combination Filter ....................................... 172
Manual Transmission Oil .............................. 172
Wiper Blades .............................................. 173
Car Care Instructions.................................. 174
Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ........................................... 183
Tires/Wheels .............................................. 184
Loading Information .................................... 195
Wheels with Central Locking ........................ 197
Central Bolts .............................................. 197
Changing a Wheel ....................................... 198
Checking Tire Pressure with a
Pressure Gauge .......................................... 203
Flat Tire ..................................................... 203
Lifting the Vehicle with a Lifting Platform or
Garage Lift ................................................. 206
Electrical System ........................................ 207
Battery....................................................... 211Replacing the remote-control battery ............216
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables .......217
Bulb chart ..................................................219
Lights, Replacing Bulbs ...............................219
Headlights ..................................................220
License Plate Light ......................................227
Front Side Lights, Front Turn Signal Lights,
Daytime Running Lights, Tail Lights and
Additional Brake Light..................................227
Adjusting Headlights ....................................228
Towing .......................................................230
Vehicle Identification....................................234
Technical Data ............................................236
Engine Diagram at full Power .......................242
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Before driving off...
11
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections.
These engineering and safety features will be
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his/her car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always
drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first fTurn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every refueling.
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
fCheck, and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
fSee that all windows are clear and
unobstructed.
fCheck air intake slots and area between
luggage compartment lid and windshield.
Ensure that these areas are free of snow and
ice, so the heater and the windshield wipers
work properly. fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
fChild restraint systems will not fit into the
Sports bucket seat.
Do not install a child restraint system in the
Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped
with the LATCH system and thus the airbag
system cannot be manually deactivated.
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks.
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.
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Operation, Safety
55
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the “On” position and verifying that the warning
light illuminates.
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer go on while driving, the brake
fluid level may be too low, or (if the brake pedal
travel has increased) one of the two brake circuits
may have failed.
A greater braking pressure will be required,
stopping distances will be longer and the braking
behavior will change, particularly in curves.
With correctly adjusted brakes, and a correctly
working brake system, the pedal travel to the
point of brake actuation should be 1-3/16 in. to
1-9/16 in. or 30 to 40 mm.
Whenever the brake pedal travel exceeds this
distance, have the brake system checked.
Brake pedal
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
Any obstruction of the brake pedal could
increase the stopping distance.
fAlways check the movement of the brake pedal
before driving and make sure that it is not
obstructed by a floor mat or any other object.
fSecure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you nonskid floor mats of the correct size.
Note
In case one of the two brake circuits fails, incre-
ased pedal travel is required to bring your vehicle
to a full stop.
Warning!
To avoid overheating and premature wear of
the brakes:
fBefore descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift the transmission into a lower
gear to control speed.
fDo not “ride the brakes” by resting your foot on
the pedal when not intending to apply brake
pressure.
fDo not hold the pedal down too long or too
often.
This could cause the brakes to get hot and not function properly.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada
10_GT3_21.book Seite 55 Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009 12:48 12
116
Instruments, On-Board Computer
Check Engine
(Emission Control)The emission control system detects malfunctions
early that could, for example, cause increased
pollutant emissions or consequential damage.
Faults are indicated by a continuously lit or
flashing instrument panel warning light.
The faults are recorded in the control unit's fault
memory.
The warning light in the instrument panel lights up
when the ignition is switched on as a bulb check
and goes out approx. 4 seconds after the engine
starts. If the warning light does not light up, have
the bulb replaced promptly.
The warning light in the instrument panel flashes to
indicate operating states (e.g. engine misfiring)
which might cause damage to certain parts of the
emission control system.
fIn this case, immediately reduce the engine
load by easing off the accelerator.
fIn order to avoid consequential damage to the
engine or emission control system (e.g.
catalytic converter), have the fault diagnosed
and rectified immediately at the nearest autho-
rized Porsche dealer.If the warning light in the instrument panel lights up
permanently without flashing before and remains
on while driving, it suggests:
– a potential engine control problem and the
need for system service or
– an improperly fastened tank cap or
– the vehicle was refueled while the engine was
running.
fStop immediately at a suitable and secure
place and check tank cap for proper fastening.
If tank cap was fastened correctly, see your
authorized Porsche dealer for service as soon
as possible.
Caution!
If the check engine warning light in the
instrument panel is flashing, serious
catalytic converter damage and power loss
will soon occur.
Prolonged driving with the check engine
warning light on could cause damage to the
emission control system. It also could affect
fuel economy and driveability.
fHave the fault remedied at the nearest authorized Porsche dealer immediately.The central warning light on the instrument panel
lights up if there are warning messages in the
INFO menu.
The messages can be called in the on-board
computer INFO menu:
fPlease see the chapter “INFO WARNING
MESSAGES” on Page 123.
The warning light on the instrument panel lights
up:
– if the handbrake is on,
– if the brake fluid level is low,
– if the brake pads have reached the wear limit,
– if the brake circuit division is defective.
Additionally, a warning is displayed by the on-
board computer.
fPlease see the chapter “WARNINGS ON THE
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-BOARD
COMPUTER” on Page 148.
Warning Light
Central Warning Light
Brake Warning Light USA
Brake Warning Light Canada
10_GT3_21.book Seite 116 Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009 12:48 12
148
Warnings
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-board computerIf a warning message appears, always refer to the corresponding chapters in the Owner’s Manual.
Warning messages are issued only if all measurement preconditions are met. Therefore, check all fluid levels regularly –
in particular, always check the engine oil level before refuelling.Acknowledging warning messagesWarning messages can be deleted from the on-board computer display.
fPush the on-board computer operating lever forward.
You can recall erased warning messages in the “INFO” menu.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure
Seat belt Driver and passenger must fasten their seat belts.
Handbrake Handbrake is still on.
Ignition key
not removed
Replace battery
in ignition keyReplace the remote-control battery.
Ignition lock faulty,
visit workshopHave the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Ignition lock faulty,
visit workshop nowHave the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Relieve steering Relieve the steering lock by moving the steering wheel to the left or right.
Steering locked The steering wheel lock remains engaged.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
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Warnings
151
Failure indicator Coolant indicator failed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Failure
outside temp.
indicatorOutside temperature indicator failed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Service
wear on
brake padsHave the brake pads changed immediately at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning
Brake fluid levelStop immediately in a suitable place.
Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning
Brake distributionStop immediately in a suitable place.
Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
ABS failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
SC off
Continuous display: SC offStability Control (SC) switched off.
SC+TC off
Continuous display: SC+TC offStability Control (SC) and Traction Control (TC) switched off.
SC+TC on Stability Control (SC) and Traction Control (TC) switched on.
PSM failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure
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156
Maintenance, Car Care
Maintenance, Car CareExercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ........................................... 157
Coolant Level ............................................. 158
Engine Oil................................................... 159
Engine Oil Level .......................................... 160
Brake Fluid Level ........................................ 162
Fuel Economy ............................................. 164
Operating your Porsche in other Countries .... 164
Fuel ........................................................... 165
Fuel Recommendations............................... 166
Portable Fuel Containers ............................. 167
Fuel Evaporation Control ............................. 167
Emission Control System............................. 168
How Emission Control Works ....................... 169
Washer Fluid............................................... 170
Power Steering ........................................... 171
Air Filter ..................................................... 172
Combination Filter ....................................... 172
Manual Transmission Oil .............................. 172
Wiper Blades .............................................. 173
Car Care Instructions.................................. 174
10_GT3_21.book Seite 156 Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009 12:48 12
Maintenance, Car Care
157
Exercise Extreme Caution when
Working on your Vehicle
Danger!
Ignoring the following instructions may
cause serious personal injury or death.
fThe engine compartment of any motor vehicle
is a potentially hazardous area. If you are not
fully familiar with proper repair procedures, do
not attempt the adjustments described on the
following pages.
This caution also applies to the entire vehicle.
fO n l y w o r k o n y o u r v e h i c l e o u t d o o r s o r i n a w e l l
ventilated area.
fEnsure that there are no open flames in the
area of your vehicle at any time when fuel
fumes might be present. Be especially
cautious of such devices such as hot water
heaters which ignite a flame intermittently.
fBefore working on any part in the engine
compartment, turn the engine off and let it cool
down sufficiently. Hot engine compartment
components can burn skin on contact.
fBe alert and cautious around engine at all
times while the engine is running.
If work has to be performed with the engine
running, always set the parking brake, and
make sure the shift lever is in neutral position.fIn particular, be very careful to ensure that
items of clothing (ties, shirt, sleeves etc.),
jewelry, long hair, hand or fingers cannot get
caught in the engine-compartment blower, fan,
belts or other moving parts.
The radiator and radiator fans are in the front
of the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted
on the engine-compartment lid.
The engine-compartment blower can start or
continue running as a function of temperature,
even with the engine switched off.
Carry out work in these areas only with the
engine off, the ignition switched off, and
exercise extreme caution.
fYour Porsche is equipped with an electronic
ignition system. When the ignition is on, high
voltage is present in all wires connected with
the ignition system; therefore, exercise
extreme caution when working on any part of
the engine while the ignition is on or the engine
is running.
fAlways support your car with safety stands if it
is necessary to work under the car.
fWhen working under the car without safety
stands but with the wheels on the ground,
make sure the car is on level ground, the
wheels are blocked, and that the engine
cannot be started.
Remove the ignition key. fDo not smoke or allow an open flame around
the battery or fuel.
Keep a fire extinguisher close at hand.
fIncomplete or improper servicing may cause
problems in the operation o f t h e c a r. I f i n d o u b t
about any servicing, have it done by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Improper maintenance during the warranty
period may affect your Porsche warranty
coverage.
fSupplies of fluids, e.g. engine oil, brake fluid or
coolant, are hazardous to your health.
Keep these fluids out of children’s reach and
dispose of them in accordance with the appro-
priate regulations.
fSome countries require additional tools and
special spare parts to be carried in your
vehicle.
Please make enquiries before driving abroad.
Power measurementsPower measurements on dynamometers are not
approved by Porsche.
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